I have an interest in photography, videography, astronomy, and more . . . so I have a lot of optical stuff, including cameras, telescopes, and binoculars. I also like good sunglasses, since I want to keep my eyes functional so I can keep doing that other stuff. My optical gear is catalogued here.
Photography
Photography is one of my major hobbies. I also enjoy a little bit of videography now-and-then. I do most of my shooting on my phone now, just like everybody else, but my “serious” equipment comes out when I want the range, quality, and control that you can only get with big sensors and lenses.
Sony E-mount System
My current collection of photo and video gear uses the Sony E-mount interchangeable lens system. It includes Sony mirrorless camera bodies, E-mount lenses from Sony and third-party manufacturers, lenses adapted from other systems, and accessories.
Camera Bodies
- Sony α6600 (ILCE-6600)
- APS-C format (23.5×15.6mm)
- 24 megapixel Bionz X sensor
- Image stabilization
- NP-FZ100 battery (810 CIPA rating)
- Sony α7 II (ILCE-7M2)
- Full-frame format (35.8×23.9mm)
- 24 megapixel Bionz X sensor
- Image stabilization
- NP-FW50 battery (350 CIPA rating)
E-Mount Native Lenses
- Zoom:
- Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS (SEL2870) normal zoom
- Full-frame 28-70mm (APS-C eq. 42-105mm), f/3.5-5.6
- Auto focus, auto exposure, image stabilization
- Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS (SEL18135) all-in-one zoom
- APS-C 18-135mm, f/3.5-5.6 (eq. 27-203mm)
- Auto focus, auto exposure, image stabilization
- Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD (A047) telephoto zoom
- Full-frame 70-300mm (APS-C eq. 105-450mm), f/4.5-6.3
- Auto focus, auto exposure
- Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS (SEL2870) normal zoom
- Prime:
- Samyang MF 14mm f/2.8 Mk2 (MK14-E) wide-angle prime
- Full-frame 14mm (APC-C eq. 21mm), f/2.8
- Manual focus, manual exposure
- Samyang AF 24mm f/2.8 FE (SYIO24AF-E) compact wide-angle prime
- Full-frame 24mm (APC-C eq. 36mm), f/2.8
- Auto focus, auto exposure
- Samyang AF 45mm f/1.8 FE (SYIO45AF-E) normal prime
- Full-frame 45mm (APC-C eq. 68mm), f/1.8
- Auto focus, auto exposure
- Samyang AF 75mm f/1.8 FE (SYIO75AF-E) telephoto prime
- Full-frame 75mm (APC-C eq. 113mm), f/1.8
- Auto focus, auto exposure
- Samyang MF 14mm f/2.8 Mk2 (MK14-E) wide-angle prime
- Specialty:
- Thingyfy Pinhole Pro S (001C-PS-00038) pinhole
- 0.14mm pinhole (no optical elements)
- APS-C 11mm (eq. 17mm), f/78.6
- Fixed focus, fixed exposure
- Thingyfy Pinhole Pro S (001C-PS-00038) pinhole
Adapted Lenses
- Nikon Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 vintage wide-angle prime
- Nikon F-mount with FotodioX tilt/shift adapter
- Full-frame 24mm (APS-C eq. 36mm), f/2.8
- Manual focus, manual exposure
- Used for tilt/shift on APS-C only
- Olympus Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 vintage normal prime
- Olympus OM-mount with FotodioX adapter
- Full-frame 50mm (APS-C eq. 75mm), f/1.8
- Manual focus, manual exposure
- Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 vintage normal macro prime
- Nikon F-mount with FotodioX adapter
- Full-frame 55mm (APS-C eq. 83mm), f/3.5, 1:2 macro
- 1:1 macro with Nikon M2 extension tube
- Manual focus, manual exposure
- JCPenney (Samyang) 135mm f/2.8 vintage telephoto prime
- Ricoh RK (Pentax K-mount variant) with FotodioX adapter
- Full-frame 135mm (APS-C eq. 203mm), f/2.8
- Manual focus, manual exposure
- Tokina SZX 400mm f/8 Reflex MF catadioptric super-telephoto prime
- Generic T-mount with Tokina adapter
- Full-frame 400mm (APS-C eq. 600mm), f/8.0
- + Tokina 2x extender: FF eq. 800mm (APS-C eq. 1200mm), f/16
- Manual focus, fixed exposure
Secondary Lenses and Filters
- Cokin Nuances Clearsky 67mm light pollution filter
- Farpoint Bahtinov 67mm focusing mask
- Schneider Kreuznach B+W Close-Up 55mm magnifying lenses (+2, +4, and +10)
- Schneider Kreuznach B+W 010 Master 55mm ultraviolet (UV) filter
- Schneider Kreuznach B+W S03 Basic 55mm circular polarizing filter
- Schneider Kreuznach B+W 803 Master 55mm neutral density filter (0.9, 3-stop)
- Tiffen Solar 67mm neutral density filter (4.8, 16-stop)
- Protective filters (clear or UV) in various sizes from Amazon Basics, Schneider Kreuznach, Tiffen, etc.
Selected Accessories
- Barska AF12548 monopod
- Godox Litemons LED6R video light
- Godox TT350S flash
- LENSband and LENSband Mini silicone anti-creep
- Manfrotto Compact Advanced tripod
- Manfrotto Pixi Evo tripod
- Revo RBL-S wireless remote
- Revo VRS-MULTI wired remote
Standalone and Other Systems
Cameras
- Apple iPhone 14 Pro smartphone (see Phones and Tablets)
- GoPro Hero3 White digital sport
- Ridgid Micro CA-25 digital inspection
Selected Accessories
- SmallRig ST20 Pro tripod/selfie stick
Other Optics
Sometimes I like to look at things that are far away. That could mean something a few miles away across the water, or a galaxy a million light-years away. I also like to protect my eyes from the sun. The tools I use for those things are listed here.
Telescopes
- Telescopes
- Eyepieces
- Lenses
- Filters
- Celestron 1.25″ Neutral Density (13% transmission)
- Celestron 1.25″ UHC Light Pollution Reduction
- Celestron EclipSmart Solar Filter (front mounted)
- Farpoint Bahtinov Focusing Mask (front mounted)
- Diagonals
- Mount
- Celestron CG-2 equatorial mount and tripod
Binoculars, Etc.
- Bushnell Equinox Z 6×50 digital night vision monocular
- Bushnell PowerView 10×32 compact binocular (2x)
- Creative XP PRO digital night vision binocular
- Nikon Action Extreme 10×50 ATB binocular
Sunglasses
- Knockaround Fast Lanes (matte black frame; smoke polycarbonate lens) (3x)
- Knockaround Fast Lanes Sport (jelly black frame; sky blue polycarbonate lens)
- Oakley Holbrook (polished black frame; Prizm sapphire polycarbonate lens)
- Randolph Engineering Aviator (matte chrome frame; American gray glass lens)
- Ray-Ban Round (silver tone frame; silver flash glass lens)
- Ray-Ban Wayfarer Classic (gloss black frame; G-15 green glass lens)
- Revo Descend N (black frame; blue water polycarbonate lens)
- Serengeti Varese (brushed brown frame; driver’s gradient glass lens)
- Wiley X WX Valor (matte black frame; smoke gray polycarbonate lens)
History
Cameras
Dedicated cameras I’ve owned since adulthood are listed here. See also my Phones and Tablets history.
- Nikon D3100 digital single-lens reflex (APS-C format)
- AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (APS-C; 27-82.5mm equivalent)
- AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G VR (APS-C; 82.5-300mm equivalent)
- Nikon SB-500 AF Speedlight
- Canon PowerShot SX20 IS “prosumer” point-and-shoot
- Canon PowerShot S3 IS “prosumer” point-and-shoot
- Canon ZR40 MiniDV camcorder
Sunglasses
“Good” sunglasses I’ve owned (i.e., not including cheap convenience-store and Walmart sunglasses) are listed here.
- American Optical Original Pilot (matte chrome frame; gray glass lens)